Tanzania may be most famous for the Serengeti, but for those willing to explore this incredible country a little further, there are incredible opportunities for travel off the beaten path. This arid country has some of the continent`s most spectacular game reserves as well as some of the world`s most beautiful beaches, and is the home of Jane Goodall`s chimpanzees. Visitors to Tanzania rarely leave disappointed.

Serengeti National Park covers 14,763 square kilometers of endless rolling plains which reach up to the Kenyan border and extends almost to Lake Victoria. The park is teaming with stunning wildlife - it is thought that over 3 million large mammals roam the plains. In May or early June you can witness the annual migration of millions of zebra and wildebeest and the predators that follow them as the seasons change.

Lake Manyara National Park sits at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment and is one of the most scenic parks in Tanzania. The major landmark in this park is the spectacular Rift Valley wall, where the plains give way to cultivated uplands of Mbululand. The Great Rift Valley is part of a fault in the earth's crust. This fault stretches 8,000 km from Turkey to the mouth of the Zambezi River in Mozambique. The fault is so massive that astronauts can see it clearly from space. Animals found in the area include zebra, elephant, hippo, monkey, wildebeest, waterbuck, warthog, gazelle, impala, buffalo, wildebeest, waterbuck, warthog, hyena, baboon and giraffe. Manayara is also known for its tree-climbing lions. There are also over 350 species of bird life, with a variety of local species inhabiting the lake shores, forest and bush.

Kilimanjaro National Park is situated around Africa's highest peak and one of the most magnificent sights, Mount Kilimanjaro. The highest peak in Africa at 5895 metres high, the views from Kilimanjaro are spectacular. And the area covering the rainforests is home to animals including eland, elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and monkey.

Climbing this mountain is an adventurous journey through the mists of an equatorial jungle, reaching snowy peaks and breath-taking summit views. The ascent weaves through forests that vary in altitude, and opens into open moorlands below a rocky, snow-covered plateau. Climbing Kilimanjaro can be done any time of the year, but January, February and September are the best months.

Selous Game Reserve is the largest game reserve in Africa - 4 times the size of the Serengeti. It possesses a diverse landscape from hot volcanic springs, sporadic lakes, channels from the Great Rhaha and Rufiji rivers. The sheer size and remoteness of this park allows visitors a glimpse of what Africa was like centuries ago. With over 350 species of bird and 2,000 species of plants to see makes this the most heavenly sanctuary to explore.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to the famous volcanic Ngorongoro crater which is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. The crater (610 metres deep and 260 square kilometers) is a microcosm of East African scenery and game. Scenic grandeur and stunning views are the hallmark of this wonder of the world. There is a large population of lion in the crater and your chances of observing a magnificent black-maned male are excellent. In addition, this may be the best place in East Africa to spot the extremely rare black rhino.

Gombe Stream National Park is on Lake Tanganyika, near the Burundi border. This park is where Jane Goodall began out her groundbreaking studies of chimpanzee behavior in 1960, and research continues today at the institute that carries her name. Gombe was created with Goodall`s urging to protect thousands of chimpanzees and is set in the stunning Mahale mountains. It is reknowned for fantastic sunsets over Lake Tanganyika and Eastern Zaire which makes it an essential stop for the keen photographer. The habitat combines rain forest, grasslands, alpine bamboo and woodland. The best time to visit is between May and October.

Zanzibar Island, a short flight or boat ride from Tanzania's southern coast, is a perfect way to wind up your safari while relaxing on white sand beaches in a tropical paradise. The ocean offers warm clear blue waters, excellent reefs for snorkelling and diving, fantastic deep sea fishing, water sports and of course delicious fresh fish. And if you thought that wasn`t enough, visiting the spice plantations (cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom and others) or haggling for carvings in the Central Market is great fun too. There are a wealth of resorts on Tanzania`s coast that cater to a wide variety of tastes and budgets.